Brian Smith insists that a repeat of the performance London Irish gave in last Sunday’s defeat by Leicester should still be enough to see off Exeter Chiefs tomorrow.

Brian Smith insists that a repeat of the performance London Irish gave in last Sunday’s defeat by Leicester should still be enough to see off Exeter Chiefs tomorrow

Brian Smith insists that a repeat of the performance London Irish gave in last Sunday’s defeat by Leicester should still be enough to see off Exeter Chiefs tomorrow.

Exiles’ director of rugby maintains that he was proud of the team’s intensity in the big St Patrick’s Party game at Madejski Stadium even though it failed to prevent them losing 41-32.

Smith said: “Leicester are the Real Madrid of our league. Their second team is full of internationals. To be able to replace Dan Cole with Martin Castrogiovanni is amazing.

“It is interesting how Leicester and Saracens are able to put together those squads with the salary cap issues – but they do.

“They have that embarassment of riches and I was really proud of how our boys fought at the weekend.

“To me that is just a benchmark performance. We are asking the team to perform like that every weekend. Go out, put their hearts on the line and play without fear.

“We went behind but were able to fight back and pinch the lead with a couple of minutes to go. We gave ourselves a massive chance to beat a super team and just have to perform like that over the next four games.”

Smith added: “A performance like that is good enough to beat any team in our league.

“When we came off the pitch Geordan Murphy, the Leicester captain, came straight up to me and said ‘That was an awesome game to be a part of. You guys were outstanding. You play like that and you guys will be a top-four team.

“He has nothing to gain saying that. It is just recognition and from your opponent. Coming from the Tigers it means we are heading in the right direction, but we have to front up and repeat that kind of performance this weekend.”